Researchers at Washington State University are proposing a 5,220 mile wide solar sail which in theory could generate 1 billion billion gigawatts of power, which is 100 billion times the amount of power the earth currently consumes. The satellites work by using a charged copper wire to capture electrons in the solar winds traveling at hundreds of kilometers per second. The proposed satellite would require a 3,280 ft cable and a 5,220 mile wide sail. Some of the power produced would be sent back into the copper wire and the rest would be sent to earth through an infrared laser beam. The problem with the plan is not only its massive size but also, with millions of miles between the satellite and the earth, the laser would begin to spread out and only a fraction of the energy would actually be harvested. Schulze-Makuch, one of the researchers from Washington State University, says that although most of the technology required already exists a more focused laser would be necessary.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39441929/ns/technology_and_science-discoverycom/
Image: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-10/solar-wind-could-replace-solar-wind-renewable-energy-source
That's pretty intense. This could certainly help our current energy crisis. How long will this take to construct and transport?
ReplyDeleteThey don't have an estimated construction time on it since it's only a concept at the moment. They have no plans of actually creating it, at least not until they create the technology necessary to focus the laser.
ReplyDeleteSuper creative and an awesome concept. My question is how is that energy harvested? Like i get the laser idea but is that sent to like one giant generator on earth? and the only other problem i see is who is going to be in control of the energy? and what is a back up plan if this did work and we became reliant on it.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds pretty far-fetched in my opinion. It does seem like it would help out with our energy needs though, but if it was really created, would it be worth all the money in the long run if only a fraction of the energy is harvested?
ReplyDeleteonly a fraction of the energy would be able to be harvested until they find a way to focus the laser, once they do that the would be able to collect the majority of the power
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